Then it got awkward.
She quickly looked down at the menu, pretending to read.
"Why is he staring at me this much?"
Her thoughts spiraled as a wave of heat flushed through her.
"Am I really that spellbinding?"
"Then say something!"
Not only was her attraction to Ethan deepening, but that intense gaze of his made the short silence feel unbearably heavy.
"I need a distraction," she thought, her eyes flicking toward the desserts section—but she couldn't focus.
Instead, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to stay composed.
"Is my outfit that spellbinding… enough to catch the attention of the great boss?" she teased, her voice playful like a fangirl.
"Are you bored again?"
Wait till I crack that cold shell of yours, she smirked inwardly, masking her thoughts with a dazzling smile.
"Bored? How can I be bored with a handsomely great boss sitting right in front of me?"
She tilted her head with a smirk, tone laced with faux admiration.
"You asked for a self-designed outfit and got one—but didn't even compliment me or the outfit? What a joke!"
Her mind screamed in quiet fury.
But just then, she heard a whisper—low, but unmistakably about her.
"Isn't she the girl that was at the mall with Lux?"
"Can't say for sure… but she does look familiar."
"Excuse me?"
Her mind scrambled in alarm.
"How do they even know that?!"
"I thought she was Lux's girl though. Didn't know she was jumping from man to man."
That last line hit like an arrow through her chest.
Tiara suddenly stood up, head lowered to hide the sharp sting in her eyes.
"I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."
Her voice was calm, but her insides were spiraling.
Ethan watched Tiara walk away, her forced smile barely convincing. He noticed it immediately—her eyes didn't match the grin. And he didn't miss the way the two men at the corner table tracked her every step as she passed.
Not only were they staring—they were familiar.
Lux's friends. Mark and Lucas.
They didn't lower their voices.
"I really thought they were going out," Lucas said lazily.
"Our poor Lux. But they looked good together, though," Mark replied, glancing at Tiara as she disappeared into the bathroom hallway.
"Our boy was hopelessly in love too," Lucas added with a crooked smile. "Still... they did look good together. Wonder why he missed out on that pretty little lady."
But when they turned back toward the main room, they froze.
Ethan was staring directly at them.
His gaze was cold, sharp—almost murderous. A quiet kind of fury that didn't need words.
The two flinched.
"Why does he look familiar?" Lucas muttered, his gaze locked in place, unable to look away. There was something dangerous about this man.
It felt like he was waiting—for one wrong move. One reason to act.
"I don't know," Mark replied under his breath. "But this man looks like someone we really shouldn't provoke."
A beat passed. Then another thought crept in.
"Did Lux know about this Guy before he tasked us with ruining her date?"
Meanwhile, Tiara stood in the bathroom, spiraling internally.
"How did they know Lux?"
"Is this some kind of scheme?"
"Besides… at the mall, Lux was in disguise!"
She exhaled, gripping the sink and staring at herself in the mirror.
"Alright… calm down."
"Please don't tell me he now thinks I'm some dishonest loser who jumps from man to man…"
The thought of Ethan seeing her that way only deepened her fear.
Not only could it ruin the "girlfriend scheme" she'd been working so hard on, but—worse—Ethan might come to hate her.
She finally exited the bathroom, forcing a bright smile.
"Sorry I took longer than expected."
Ethan didn't respond. He simply watched her. Studied her.
She sat down, looking detached as she stared at the untouched food.
"She's still smiling… even after that?"
He observed her quietly.
"For someone with such an appearance," he said coldly, his gaze sharp, "your eyes are… surprisingly deficient."
"Excuse me?!"
She blinked, stunned.
He was calm. Cold. Almost unhinged in how unaffected he seemed.
She let out a breath, masking the sting behind her smile.
"Please don't get it twisted. There's nothing going on between me and your nephew."
She stood abruptly.
"Forget it. I've lost my appetite."
It wasn't just the slander that got to her—it was the sinking feeling that everything was unraveling. All she wanted now was to leave.
"Sorry about that," she said, still managing a polite tone.
"The tab is still on me, sir."
She smiled one last time…
then turned and walked off to pay for the meal neither of them had touched.
"I don't even know why I stomped off…After all, this kind of slander shouldn't ruin my mood."
Tiara walked down the sidewalk, her steps slower, her heart heavy.
"I'll probably face worse slander in the future. Besides… this is all just acting on my end anyway."
She paused near the edge of the walkway, taking a deep breath.
"But what about his end?"
"I'm not even sure where he stands…"
"I hope he's not angry with me."
She turned around slightly, glancing back at the restaurant she'd just stormed out of—Only to be taken aback.
Ethan was standing right behind her.
"What are you waiting for?" he asked calmly.
He wasn't flustered or upset—just quietly present. And close.
Very close.
Their gazes locked.
She looked up. He looked down.
A wave of heat passed between them—unexpected, quiet… intimate.
"Let's go," he said simply.
"Hmph!"
Tiara turned around with a pout, folding her arms.
"Go ahead," she huffed.
"After all… my eyes are deficient, remember? So I can't see you!"
But to Tiara's surprise, she felt a small tug on her coat—a gentle pull to get her attention.
"Are you sure you're not broke after paying for the food?" Ethan asked coolly.